Puzzle



W. A. BlCKINGS,

PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1919.

, 1,349,937, Pat ted Aug. 17, 1920.

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Jme/ntn W11. Bic/firms WILLIAM A. BICKINGS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1'7, 1920.

Application filed March 15, 1919. Serial No. 282,788.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLTAM A. BICK- iNcs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful lmprm'enients in Puzzles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to puzzles, and more particularly to a device specially adapted for advertising purposes in which a prize such as a cent is this casing being normally closed by plates or the equivalent held in closed position by concealed means, the outer surface of the casing being adapted to receive advertising matter inscribed thereon.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novelty of the character-stated which may be produced at very small cost and may be distributed by large stores and similar establishments to their patrons for advertising purposes.

A further object is to provide a puzzle of neat appearance and simple construction which may be readily produced at very small cost having concealed locking means which renders it impossible to open the puzzle unless it is turned into a particular position.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

l igure 1 is a top plan view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bottom plate of the device.

Fig. 3 is an underneath plan view of the same.

F ig. 4 is a section taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 1.

F ig. 5'is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 1'.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified form of fastening element or pivot.

F ig. 7 is a perspective view of the fastening element or pivot.

In constructing the device, I provide a flat bottom plate 1 of substantial rectangular shape which is provided at the central portion its upper surface with a recess 2' placed in a easing,

for reception oi a cent or a picture or other prize to be displayed when the device opened. This plate is adapted to be normally closed by a relatively large top plate 3 and a smaller top plate l which are pixoted to the bottom plate by means of screws 5 or-their equivalents inserted through the top plates and screwed into recesses in the bottom plate, the lower ends of these screws being preferably spread to prevent withdrawal thereof. After the screws have been secured in position, the heads 6 thereof are preferably milled off or smoothed to obliterate the usual slot so as to effectually prevent removal of the screw. A recess 7 is provided in the upper face of the top plate concentric with the opening thorethroug'h for the screw, this recess receiving a light spring washer S confined between the bottom of the recess and the screw head (5, this washer serving to hold the top plate snugly against the bottom plate. As will be noted more clearly from Fig. 1, the larger top plate 3 has its inner end formed of substantial Vshape, as at 9, and is provided at the central portion thereof with an outwardly extending V-shaped recess 10 which receives a correspondingly shaped element 11 projecting from the central portion of the beveled inner end 12 of the smaller top plate 4. The beveling of the inner end of the smaller top plate, and of the inner end of the larger top plate, leaves an outwardly diverging opening 13 between the lower portions of the inner ends of these plates, this opening being such as to permit the larger top plate, when released from the bottom plate, to be turned upwardly and outwardly about its pivot as indicated in a Fig. 1, to uncover the recess 2 of the bottom plate. When the larger top plate is secured to the bottom plate, it cannot be moved in the mannerdescribed, and due to engagement of element 11 in recess 10, the smaller top plate is also looked against movement, the bottom plate being thus effectually covered by the two top plates so as to lock the article in recess 2. I

As will be noted more clearly from Fig. 4, the larger top plate 3 is provided in its under face with a recess 14 positioned. outside of its pivot, this recess being of such size as to receive and completely contain a locking ball 15 which is adapted to be nor= mallv seated in a relatively shallow recess 16 formed in the upper face of bottom plate- 1, recess 16 being in alinement with recess sponding to slightly more than one-half of the diameter of this'ball so that, when the top plates are uppermost. the larger plate will be effectually locked against movement about itspivot, the smaller plate being also locked against movement by means of the bottom' plates larger plate and the element 11 fitting into the recess 10., To open the device, it is necessary toinvert it soas tocause locking ball 16 to be positioned completely within the recess 14 of the top plate, after which the top plate isturned about its pivot so as to move point A of this plate toward element 11 of the smaller top plate. When this is done, thelarger top plate, as well as the smaller top plate, are both simultaneously rocked about their pivots so as to uncover the recess 2, thus exposing the article therein. As will be noted more'clearly from Fig. 3, the under face of the bottom plate I is smooth and is welladapted to contain advertising matter inscribed thereon so that, when the device is inverted for opening the same, this advertising matter is displayed to the holder of the puzzle. In this manner, I provide a simple and efficient puzzle which is so constructed as to necessitate, for itssuccess'ful operation, inverting of the same so as to display advertising matter printedon the under surface thereof to a person attempting to operate the puzzle. V I

In Fig, 6 I have illustrated a modified form in which the pivot screw for securing the top' plates to the bottom plate, is' replaced by a hollow split rivet 5 provided at its lower end with; annular shoulders which project into cooperating recesses in the bottom plate, thus enabling the device tobe more cheaply manufactured. Also, as will be understood, if desired the screw may be'replaced by the ordinary hollow rivet inserted completely through both the top. and and; having its end portions beaded in the well known manner. As will be understood, the locking ball and the recesses associated therewith'may be placed in either of the top plates desired or, if pre ferred, both of the top plates may be provideo with a locking ball, this being left to the discretion of the manufacturer. It will be evident that there may be slight c ranges made in the construction and arrangement ol the details of my invention without departing from the field and scope'of the same,

and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which a preferred form only of my invention is disclosed.

'lVhat I claim is:

1. A puzzle comprising a bottom plate, two interlocking top plates pivoted on said bottom plate and adapted to cover the upper face thereof when in alinement, and means 4 carried by one of said topplates and by the bottom plate andcompletely concealed thereby for locking said top plate and the bottom plate against relative movement, said means being adapted to move into inoperative position so as to release the top plates when the device is inverted.

2. A' puzzle comprising a bottom plate having a pocket formed therein, a pair of upper plates pivoted on said bottom plate and provided with interlocking projections and recesses, the opposededges of said upper plate being cut away atone point to permit turning of said upper plate in one direction upon their pivots, and means for normally lockingsaid upper plate inone position upon said bottom plate;

3. A puzzle comprising a bottom plate having a pocket formed therein to contain an article, si 1i d bottom plate having a recess for a locking member in itsupper face, a comparatively large upper plate pivoted upon said bottom plate and extending over said pocket and saidrecess. of the bottom plate when in normal position thereover, said comparatively large upper plate having a beveled end with a recess formed therein, a comparatively small upper plate positioned uponsaid bottom plate and. having a beveled end, a projection for interlocking ens gagement in the recess of the first mentioned upper plate, and means for normally locking saidupper plate inone position upon said bottom plate, said means including a member normally resting in the recess of the bottom' plate, said comparatively large upper plate having a pocket formed in its under face to receive the locking means when the puzzle is; inverted to permit pivotal movement of said upper plate upon said bottom plate .to expose the article within the pocket of the bottom plate.

i In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 

